Rafael Benítez is hoping Javier Mascherano's return to form can secure Liverpool a place in the Champions League. The midfielder had a torrid start to the season and his form suffered amid speculation that Barcelona wanted to sign him. He also had difficulties with Argentina's laboured qualifying for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

His attitude was questioned but Benítez is now delighted both in the way Mascherano has played and his demeanour around the Melwood training ground. It has left the manager convinced that the 25-year-old's best is still to come and, with the club heading into a week in which they play Unirea Urziceni and Manchester City, he is expecting him to play a big part.

"Javier is showing on the pitch why he is the captain of Argentina," Benítez told the Liverpool Echo. "He has a very good character, he is very positive and can inspire those around him. He is setting an example to the rest of the team. I am really pleased with the way all of them are playing at the minute but Javier Mascherano is a player who is doing really well for us.

"Look at the derby. He played in a different position [right-back] but he still managed to have a massive impact and everyone can see there is a big difference in what he is doing now."

It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will seek to buy Mascherano in the summer but the likelihood is that the European champions will test Liverpool's resolve, as he has entered the final 18 months of his contract. Benítez, though, does not anticipate there being any distractions during the final months of the campaign and he believes Mascherano is showing the attitude which attracted him to Liverpool in 2007.

"At the beginning of the season it was very difficult for him," said Benítez. "But now things have settled down and he is working very hard for the team. He is back to the Javier Mascherano that we signed. His commitment to the club is 100%."

Having used the FA Cup weekend to let his players rest, Benítez has now started to prepare for the Europa League fixture with Unirea at Anfield on Thursday evening.

He could be tempted to shuffle his pack for the Romanians' visit and that could mean a recall for Albert Riera. "Albert is an option on the left," said Benítez. "It is important for us to have competition for each place.

"He will improve. He needed to train some weeks in a row but he has come on again in the last month and you can see that in his training."